He ran upstairs and flung open the fridge to get the water jug. The jug had less than a mouthful of water in it.
“Leandro, you imbecile!”
This had been one of Leandro’s favorite games since he was a teenager. Massimo had made the mistake of telling him to fill it when it was empty, so Leandro made sure it was never empty. You’d think a grown man would have gotten tired of the childish rebellion, but apparently not.
Massimo ran around his home trying to find enough water to put out the fire, and when he failed, he headed outside to the storage container.
Luckily, Leandro had kept up with that chore. He scooped out a jug of water and poured it over a rag. Then, he took the rag downstairs and patted the wet cloth on his books to extinguish the flames. It had taken him years to acquire all these books. They were the most precious thing he owned.
When the fires were out, he looked around his vault. The explosion had thrown everything into chaotic jumbles, making a dreadful mess. His failed batch of vodka was now a muddy puddle on the floor.
“For fuck’s sake! This is going to be a nightmare to clean up before Leandro gets back.”
Leandro would bust his chops for making his liquor down here. Massimo had wanted to keep it close so he could keep an eye on it, but now, his walls were black from the fire. He pinched out the flame on the candle so he didn’t have to see it anymore.
“Massimo, are you in there?” Kelvin called as he banged on Massimo’s front door. Kelvin often visited, but there was worry in his voice today. Massimo knew something was wrong.
Massimo quickly went upstairs and opened the door. “What is it?”
“There’s been a murder in Pinewood.”
Chapter Seven
Ryder sat on the sandy bank of the river, taking stock of her situation. So far, there had been no sign of Afana’s men. Whatever Terrier had done, he’d managed to stall the hunters from giving chase.
Still, Ryder knew they would come after her eventually. She had to make the most of the extra time Terrier had given her. She needed to get moving, even though she was still weak from nearly drowning.
She would have drowned if the wolf hadn’t saved her life for the second time. Either he was her guardian angel, or it was saving her for dinner.
As grateful as she was for the wolf’s assistance, she wished it had deposited her on the opposite shore, away from the bunker and the bloodthirsty hunters. She was right back where she started, only weaker and with less time to escape.
Fucking awesome.
She gazed at the goddamn swamp with disdain. It sat in front of her, taunting her, saying ‘Come on, loser. Try your luck again.’
There was no way around it. If she wanted to get away, she had to go through the swamp. That meant more gross water, more deadly animals she couldn’t see, and more chances for her to get swept away and drown.
Ryder got to her feet and paused at the water’s edge. After her last attempt, she was rattled and unsure of herself.
Then, she heard Sergei’s voice in her head, mocking her. You’re right to be afraid. You’ll die in there. Stay here and let me find you. First, I’ll take your body, and then, I’ll take your head.
The thought made her shudder, but it also steeled her resolve. She’d rather drown than let him lay his repulsive hands on her. She gritted her teeth and took the plunge, walking into the murky water.
She wished Terrier was here. He would have carried her on his back like she weighed nothing. Then again, she would never let him do that. Even with Terrier, she couldn’t and wouldn’t admit her weakness. It was harder to be strong when there was no one around to prove oneself to, though.
As she waded through the disgusting water, she decided to head for the Bora mountains once she got across. There might still be people living there if Afana’s raiders hadn’t killed them, captured them, or driven them off.
Ryder never went on those raids. The idea of ripping a child away from its parents sickened her. She would make Afana pay for that, as well as all the greasy rats who did his dirty work for him. She’d bring final justice to everyone in the metal coffin she’d grown up in.
Walking through the swamp was taking its toll on her already exhausted body. She took a different path than before, making sure she didn’t get swept away. Still, she was tiring quickly and wished she’d packed some food.
She gulped down some water from her flask, drinking more than she should because Terrier wasn’t there to stop her. It was nice to finally quench her thirst, though she knew she’d pay for it later.
As soon as the water hit Ryder’s stomach, she felt the effects of it. She had a little buzz and felt calmer and stronger. She also felt the need for more.
Leandro watched the girl as she walked through the marsh. She was breathtaking, even if she was disguised as a boy.
He scanned the landscape and sniffed the air, but he couldn’t see or smell anyone coming after her. If they did, he would attack. In the meantime, he crept slowly after her and eyed her curiously.
Why is she going in that direction?
She was heading toward the mountains. He’d been through those mountains before, searching for answers. The humans and wolves that lived there weren’t nice to one another, and they hunted anything that crossed their paths.
He suspected they wouldn’t treat him well, and the mysterious woman would probably fare no better. Because of this, Leandro crept closer, but he stayed far enough away to remain out of sight.
If she’d gone in the other direction, it would have been so much easier. It would
